Cross country, soccer and volleyball action highlight busy Saturday
? Sandpoint cross country team hosts home meet today
The Sandpoint Cross Country Invitational is today at Dover Bay, offering something for running enthusiasts of all ages. Teams from all over the Inland Northwest will be on hand to compete in the scenic 5k race along the Pend Oreille River. The course offers great spectator viewing, and the Bulldogs feature strong boys and girls teams, the latter of which is among the best in the state.
The day starts with a free kids fun run open to all kids through the 6th grade, with every participant getting a ribbon. The girls varsity race will follow at 10 a.m., with the varsity boys starting at 10:30 a.m. The JV girls race starts at 11 a.m., and the JV boys begin at 11:40 a.m. The final race will be a 5k citizens race, open to all ages, with shirts awarded to the top male and female finishers.
There will be concessions for sale as well as long sleeved T-shirts. So come on out to Dover Bay and enjoy the excitement and fun of cross country racing.
? Soccer exhibition tonight at War Memorial
The Sandpoint Strikers and Sandpoint High School girls soccer team present North Idaho Men's Premier Soccer tonight at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Field. The game will feature Green Monarch FC, a traveling men's team comprised of former Sandpoint players, against the Coeur d'Alene United Soccer League All-Stars.
The exhibition match is a fundraiser for both the Strikers and Bulldog girls soccer programs. General admission is $4 — $2 for anyone wearing a soccer jersey — and kids 5 and under are free. A pasta dinner with salad, desert and drinks will be available during the game. There will be entertainment and raffle prizes at halftime. Bring the entire team or the entire family out for a fun night of soccer at one of the best soccer venues anywhere.
? Girls soccer and volleyball teams in action today
The Sandpoint volleyball team will host Lewiston today in Inland Empire League action at Les Rogers Court. Sandpoint (3-0, 3-0 IEL) is undefeated on the season, including all matches at the Walla Walla tournament. The varsity match starts at 2 p.m., with the JV and freshman playing at 12:30 p.m.
The girls soccer team will host Greater Spokane League power Mead at 5 p.m. at War Memorial Field. It will be the third time this season they've played a GSL team, and they're hoping to post their first win. The JV team plays at 3 p.m. at Centennial Field.
? NFL fines Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and team $250,000 for spying on opponent
NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Belichick should be able to read this signal clearly:
Spy on your opponents, and it will cost you.
The New England coach was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for stealing an opponent's defensive signals.
Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.
The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants Stadium.
The NFL said the camera was seized before the end of the first quarter and had no impact on the game.
"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.
He said he considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."
Instead, Goodell imposed the biggest fine ever on a coach and took away a first-round draft pick as a penalty for the first time in NFL history.
? Top draft pick Greg Oden to miss rookie season with Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Greg Oden's rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers ended before it started when the 7-footer had knee surgery Thursday.
The top pick in the June draft went in for an exploratory procedure on his right knee and ended up having microfracture surgery, which means he will sit out the season.
"Greg looked at me as he was coming out of his surgery, and he and his mom, Zoe, probably said 'sorry' 20 times," Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said.
"I could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. And as a leader and as leaders of this organization, my first thought was how lucky we were to have a guy that cares about the organization that much."
Dr. Don Roberts performed the surgery to repair the damage, which Pritchard described as the size of a fingertip. Oden is expected to be on crutches for up to eight weeks. Full recovery likely will take six to 12 months, the team said.
"At this point in time, we don't see him coming back this season," Pritchard said.